National parks in New Mexico
New Mexico has 2 national parks: Carlsbad Caverns National Park and White Sands National Park.
Best time to visit White Sands National Park. Getting to White Sands National Park. Permits for White Sands National Park. Timed entry and tours at White Sands National Park.
National parks in New Mexico
- Carlsbad Caverns National Park
A large limestone cave system in New Mexico. The big room is the main draw; bats fly out on warm evenings.
- White Sands National Park
White gypsum dunes in southern New Mexico. Bright, open, and easy to walk a short way into the dunes.
Other parks within reach of New Mexico
| Park | Straight-line distance | Estimated drive | Realistic trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| White Sands National Park | 129 mi (208 km) | 3 hr 30 min | Best as a weekend |
| Petrified Forest National Park | 196 mi (316 km) | 5 hr 6 min | Best as a weekend |
| Carlsbad Caverns National Park | 204 mi (328 km) | 5 hr 17 min | Best as a weekend |
| Guadalupe Mountains National Park | 207 mi (333 km) | 5 hr 21 min | Best as a weekend |
| Mesa Verde National Park | 212 mi (341 km) | 5 hr 28 min | Best as a weekend |
| Great Sand Dunes National Park | 222 mi (357 km) | 5 hr 42 min | Best as a weekend |
| Chiricahua National Park | 251 mi (404 km) | 6 hr 23 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park | 281 mi (453 km) | 7 hr 6 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Canyonlands National Park | 316 mi (508 km) | 7 hr 55 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Saguaro National Park | 325 mi (523 km) | 8 hr 8 min | Worth a longer road trip |
Biggest towns and cities in New Mexico
- Albuquerque
- Las Cruces
- Enchanted Hills
- Santa Fe
- Roswell
- Farmington
- Clovis
- Hobbs
- Alamogordo
- Carlsbad
- Gallup
- Los Lunas
- Chaparral
- Deming
- Las Vegas
- Artesia
- Los Alamos
- Portales
- Lovington
- Española
- Silver City
- Anthony
- Grants
- Socorro
- Shiprock
- Ruidoso
- Belen
- Zuni Pueblo
- Raton
- Truth or Consequences
- Taos
- White Rock
- Los Chavez
- Tucumcari
- Edgewood
- Milan
- Eunice
- Clayton
- Dulce
- Santa Teresa
- Santa Rosa
- Ruidoso Downs
- Lordsburg
- Ranchos de Taos
- Santo Domingo Pueblo
- Crownpoint
- Jal
- Navajo
- Thoreau
- Moriarty
- Jemez Pueblo
- Questa
- Radium Springs
- White Sands
- Navajo
- Columbus
- Hatch
- Estancia
- McIntosh
- Capitan
- Dexter
- Hagerman
- Laguna
- Skyline-Ganipa
- Angel Fire
- Alamo
- Chama
- Carrizozo
- Fort Sumner
- Mora
- Tierra Amarilla
- Reserve
- Mosquero
All counties in New Mexico
Common questions
How many national parks are in New Mexico?
2: Carlsbad Caverns National Park and White Sands National Park.
What is the closest national park to New Mexico?
White Sands National Park, roughly 129 mi (208 km) out and about 3 hr 30 min of driving from the centre of New Mexico.